Gallery of prints for sale

Tuesday 14 January 2020

Adolf van der Laan's etching, “Arcadian River Landscape with Two Donkeys”, c.1721


Adolf van der Laan (aka Adriaen van der Laan; Andries van der Laan) (c.1690–1742) “Arcadian River Landscape with Two Donkeys”, 1710–1747, from the series of forty plates, “Italian and German landscapes”, after  Johannes Glauber (aka Jan Glauber; Joannes Glauber; Polydor; Polidoro) (1646–c.1726), published by Leonard Schenk (aka Leon Schenk; Leonard Schenck) (fl.1720–1746) in Amsterdam.

Etching on laid paper (text watermark) trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark.
Size: (sheet) 25.5 x 38.2 cm; (plate) 24.4 x 37.1 cm; (image borderline) 23.9 x 37 cm.

Hollstein German 81 (Robert Zijlma [comp.] 1975, “German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts, ca. 1400–1700: Georg (Jörg) to after Johann Andreas Graf”, vol. 10, Amsterdam, Van Gendt & Co, p. 128, cat. 81).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:
(Transl.) “Arcadian river landscape with two figures seated on the right and walking alongside a donkey, on the left figures on the bank. The print is part of a 40-part series of prints with representations of Italian and German landscapes”

Condition: well-printed early impression (based on the lack to wear to the printing plate), trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark. There is a flattened centre fold and pencil and ink notations from previous collectors (verso), otherwise the sheet is in an excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, losses, abrasions, significant stains or foxing).

I am selling this large and finely executed etching exemplifying the early tradition dating back to at least Nicolas Poussin—mindful that Glauber executed a series of six landscapes after Poussin (TIB 20 [393]–25 [296])—of populating landscapes with figures and man-made features from an Arcadian past—note the river god and supplicant in the foreground and the travellers wearing classical robes passing a classically decorated sarcophagus (“flesh eater”) further back—for a total cost of AU$316 (currently US$217.99/EUR195.78/GBP167.33 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world

If you are interested in purchasing this strong landscape etching that is underpinned by a narrative waiting to be read—note the storyboard elements: a man paying obeisance to a river god; travellers in conversation (I like to believe that they are discussing the tomb); a distant fisherman wading through a stream with a hand-net on his back (possibly indicative of sexual need); a radiant towering mountain seemingly cradling a building on its lower slope—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold











No comments:

Post a Comment

Please let me know your thoughts, advice about inaccuracies (including typos) and additional information that you would like to add to any post.